NY lawmakers discussing what will happen when the state's data center moratorium ends
New York lawmakers are discussing the Responsible Data Center Development Act to establish future ground rules as the state's data center moratorium ends. Concerns center on rising utility bills for residents and the environmental impact of AI data centers on water and natural resources. The city of Tonawanda has also enacted a local moratorium in response to a proposed $2 billion AI center at the former Tonawanda Coke site.
New York lawmakers are discussing the "Responsible Data Center Development Act" in anticipation of the state's current data center moratorium expiring. The proposed legislation aims to establish comprehensive guidelines for the future construction of high-powered data centers, addressing concerns about their energy consumption and potential impact on utility bills for residents. Elected officials and community leaders are urging Governor Kathy Hochul to sign the Act into law.
The Act is supported by environmental advocates, including the Clean Air Coalition of Western New York, who highlight the need for more environmental studies on AI data centers, particularly regarding their effects on water and natural resources. They note that the Act, which has passed both the Assembly and Senate, extends beyond existing executive orders by including a 20-megawatt threshold for certain regulations.
North Tonawanda's mayor expressed support for the discussions, emphasizing the need for regulations to manage energy costs, even though the city already hosts a cryptocurrency facility. In a related development, the city of Tonawanda recently enacted its own local moratorium, addressing a gap identified after the state's executive order, following an earlier proposal for a $2 billion AI data center at the former Tonawanda Coke site. A statewide campaign against data centers is scheduled to commence in Buffalo on August 22nd.